Värmlands Museum
County museum at Sandgrundsudden in Karlstad with exhibitions on Värmland’s history, art from the collection and a play exhibition for children.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Värmlands Museum counts its founding year as 1839, when the provost Anders Lignell donated a collection of ancient finds to Karlstad grammar school. From 1862 the collection was looked after by an association for natural history and antiquities, but the premises in the old grammar school were unsuitable. From 1917 plans for a county museum of its own grew, and in 1926 the architect Cyrillus Johansson was commissioned to design a museum building at Sandgrund in Karlstad.
The museum opened in 1929 and was a major event in Värmland. The older building, the so-called Cyrillushuset, has a solemn character inspired by Chinese architecture and a mirror pool, and its inner courtyard is richly decorated with pictures scratched into the plaster.
In 1998 an extension designed by Carl Nyrén was completed. The Nyrén building has Falu-red timber cladding, soft curved forms and large windows facing the Klarälven. The museum reopened on 1 June 2019 after an extensive conversion with new, open and flexible exhibition spaces.
Today the museum shows, among other things, an exhibition on people’s lives in Värmland over 10,000 years, art from the museum’s collection and a play exhibition for the youngest. The museum also runs four summer-open visitor sites in the county.
Highlights
- Värmlandsliv – 10,000 years of people’s lives in the landscape
- Insyn & utblick (Insight & Outlook) – over 170 works from the art collection
- Sandbergs sagovärld (Sandberg’s Fairy-Tale World), a play exhibition for children aged 0–6
- Skaparverkstan (the Creators’ Workshop) and Framtidslabbet (the Future Lab) for children and families
- Architecture by Cyrillus Johansson (1929) and Carl Nyrén (1998)
Permanent exhibitions
- Värmlandsliv – Exhibition on people’s lives in the landscape over 10,000 years, with objects, photographs and artworks from the museum’s collection.
- Insyn & utblick – Basic exhibition with over 170 works from the art collection, mainly connected to Värmland but also including international artists.
- Sandbergs sagovärld – Play exhibition for children aged 0–6 with figures from the children’s books by Inger and Lasse Sandberg.
- Founded
- 1839
Admission & discounts
| Adults | SEK 120 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | SEK 100Pensioners |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 20 · Children and young people up to 20 have free admission. |
| Seniors | SEK 100Pensioners |
| Students & apprentices | freeStudents with a valid student card have free admission. |
| Groups | –Volume discount when buying many tickets: 5% for 50–99 tickets, 10% for 100–149, 15% for 150–199 and 20% for 200 or more. |
| Families | –Family annual pass SEK 500, valid for two adults in the party. |
| Annual pass, adult | SEK 360Valid for 12 months; free admission also to von Echstedtska gården, Långbans Gruvby, Lesjöfors Museum and Torsby Finnskogscentrum. |
| Annual pass, family | SEK 500Personal, valid for two adults in the party. |
A ticket booked in advance via Tickster is valid only for the day in question. Membership of Värmlands Museiförening (SEK 400 individual, SEK 550 family) includes an annual pass.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A gently sloping ramp leads to the main entrance, which has an automatic door opener; all exhibitions are reached by lift. Wheelchairs can be borrowed in limited numbers. Accessible toilets are in the cloakroom at the main entrance and in the older museum building. Induction loop in reception and in the lecture hall. Guide dogs are welcome. Two disabled parking spaces at the entrance.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 20 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
The play exhibition Sandbergs sagovärld (ages 0–6), the Skaparverkstaden (Creators’ Workshop), which is open whenever the museum is open, the Framtidslabbet with Lego, and quizzes and picture hunts. Creator Mondays during the autumn and spring terms and extra activities during the school holidays. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Children’s menu in the restaurant, and changing-table toilets in three places.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Vårdcentralen Gripen · 250 m
The nearest stop for Karlstad buses is Vårdcentralen Gripen (about 250 m); county buses stop at Stora Torget (about 500 m). From Karlstad C it is about 900 m on foot, and from the bus station about 1 km.
By car
Paid parking · 50 m to the entrance
Large paid parking about 50 metres south of the museum, next to the City Library; payment by card at machines or via the Easypark and Parkster apps. Two spaces have electric car charging posts.
- Accessible parking
The museum is on Sandgrundsudden in central Karlstad, close to the City Library and the Sandgrund Lars Lerin konsthall (art hall).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Restaurant serving lunch every day and café (becomes a bar at evening events), shop, packed-lunch room on the entrance level and lockable lockers in the cloakroom. Free Wi-Fi on the network Museum Guest, with no password.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Up to 160 guests.
Lecture hall (160 people), board room (25) and meeting rooms (12), and an open programme area; food and drink can be arranged.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography and filming for private use is permitted without flash, selfie stick or tripod; professional photography by arrangement. |
| Good to know | Mobile guides are available in the free Värmlands Museum app. Guided tours of the exhibitions are offered on special occasions and can be booked for groups. Food and drink are not allowed in the exhibitions. |
